Ophthalmic mounting



July 10, 1934. C FAVRE 1,966,030

OPHT HALMI C MOUNT ING Filed Jan. 23, 1950 ATTORNEK 2'10 ess of forming same. ing, the strap must be angled out approximately 66 '15 the twisting action of the lens holding or clamp Another serious defect was the improper fitting 70 and temple hinge connections to the lenses of a of the hole, and the edge or bottom of the seat 78 .25 various forms of lenses. ing embodying the invention.

" parent from the following description taken in Fig. V is an enlarged sectional View illus- 85 the spirit of the invention as expressed in the fiat lens.

40 In rimless type mountings, the bridge and temwherein like characters of reference designate 95 Since meniscus and toric lenses have gained the temples or car engaging members 3.

1 after being edged and drilled was greatly difas preciousor filled metal sheet by blanking or 1' center of the lens, and the hole as drilled by all or other means, and formed with a screw thread l 'UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE- -1,966,030 OPHTHALMIC MOUNTING George C. Favre, Southbridge, Mass, assignor to American Optical Company, Southbridge, Mass a voluntary association of Massachusetts Application January 23, 1930,Serial No. 422,772

4 Claims. (01. 88-47) This invention relates to improvements in standard lens drills is perpendicular to a tangent ophthalmic mountings and has particular referto the curve at the point of drilling, there is a ence to improved means for supporting a pair difiercnce in the average lens of approximately of lenses before the eyes of the wearer, andto 15;in the axis of the hole and the edge of the f 5 an improved process of forming same. lens. so

The principal object of the invention is to pro- A very serious objection to the use of the above vide a more secure and accurate fitting lens supmentioned attaching means with the toric type porting attachment for an ophthalmic mounting lenses, is that in order to have the lenses both on and has particular reference to an improved procthe same plane with the main body of the mount- Another object of the invention is to provide 15". This causes disalignment of the holes in lens holding means which will be adaptable withthe, strap and holes in the lens, which in many out alteration to most types of ophthalmic lenses. instances, prevented the insertion of the screw,

Another object of the invention is to eliminate and oftentimes caused the breakage of the lens.

screws in the rimless mountings and the conseof the parts, and. consequent looseness and droopquent damage to parts. ing of the lenses. It is my object to overcome the Another object of the invention is to provide above defects by providing a hole in the lens, and improved means and process of securing the bridge a seat for the attaching means wherein the axis rimless type of mounting. for the attaching means will be parallel at all Another object of the invention is to provide times, regardless of shape'or power of lens. an improved adjustment wherein the lens secur- Referring to the drawing:

ing or clamping means may be adjusted to fit Fig. I is a front view of an ophthalmic mount- I Another object of the invention is to provide im- Fig. II is a section on line II-II of Fig. I.

proved means of truing up and adjusting the Fig. III is a section online III-III of Fig. I,

mounting to the face of the wearer. greatly enlarged.

Other objects and advantages will become ap- Fig. IV is a section on line IV-IV of Fig. I.

connection with the accompanying drawing and trating the invention appliedtoa shallow curved it will be apparent that many changes may be lens.

made in the details of construction, arrange- Fig. VI is an enlarged sectional view similar ment of parts and process without departing from to Fig. V illustrating the invention applied to a accompanying claims. I, thereforedo not wish Fig. VII is an enlarged sectional view similar to be limited to the exact details shown and deto Fig. V illustrating the invention applied to scribed as the preferred forms only have been a deep curved lens.

shown by way of illustration. Referring more particularly to the drawing ple connections are secured to the lenses by first like parts throughout the several views, the dedrilling a hole through the lenses, and securing vice embodying the invention comprises a pair a clamp member thereon by means of a screw of lenses 1, connected centrally by a bridge mem-- which passes through the hole in the lens. her 2 and having attached at their outer ends I in popularity, much difliculty has been encoun- The bridge member 2 and the temple or ear .'tered in providing a satisfactory connection for engaging members 3 are attached to the lenses the lens supporting attachment of the mount- I1 by strap members 4. The strap members 4 are ing. The main difiiculty was that the toric lens formed from a single piece of material, such ferent from the flatter or flat lenses in one reotherwise forming theshape in flat form. The spect. The axis of the hole and edge of a flat lens strap 4 is provided with the ears 5 and brace are parallel, while in toric lenses, as the edge members 6 which are formed during the blankis perpendicular to a tangent to the mechanical ing process. The cars 5 are pierced by drilling 7 in one hole and a countersink 8 in the other. The strap is then bent to the shape shown in the drawing with the two ear members 5 overlying one another, so that the screw threaded hole and countersunk hole will be in line with each other. The distance B from the center line of the hole in the strap members 5 and the edge contacting face 9, remains constant, regardless of shape of lens to which it is to be fitted.

The lens 1 is next provided with a strap engaging seat 10, which is formed by grinding off a portion of the lens to form a face which lies substantially at right angles to the surfaces of the lens at the outer edge.- The screw holes 11 are then drilled in the lens, and are formed substantially parallel to the seat 10. The said screw holes 11 are drilled with a double taper as shown in the drawing the tapering surfaces intersecting substantially midway between thelens surfaces and the widest portions of the opening being at the respective lens surfaces. The distance A from the center line of the hole 11 to the face of the seat 10, is constant, and is equal tothe distance B indicated in Fig. II oi the drawing. The strap 4 is held on the lens by means of a screw 12 which extends through the hole 11 in the lens and clamps the ear mem bers 5 thereon. It will be noted that when the strap is in this position, the faces 9 and 10 engage each other, and provide a more accurate fit.

- Referring to Figures V, VI, and VII it will be noted that the strap 4 is adjusted to the curves of the various lenses by bending the arm 13 at the bridge connection. The temple 3 may be adjusted for its proper set back, by filing off the strap engaging projection 14, as shown at C in Fig. 5. A suitable seat 15'is formed on the strap 4, to provide an engaging face for the projection 14, to hold the temple in proper position.

A slight modification of the adjustment of the set back of the temple is shown in Fig. VII wherein, instead of filing the projection 14, a screw is provided. The head of the screw 16 forms a contact for the projection 14, and is adjustable in and out to control the position of the temple.

In Fig. IV, there is shown a slight modification taken as on line IVIV of Fig.1, which shows the seat 10 as being provided with beveled faces 17 and 18. These beveled faces are adapted to fit within a bevel 19 formed in the brace member 6, the purpose of which is to prevent twisting of the braces on the lens. The groove 19 is formed by striking the brace member 6 with a groove forming die, after the lens connecting member 4 is assembled. This groove is not only adapted to prevent twisting of the lens in the connecting member when assembled, but also forms a more rigid and durable brace member. The grooving process tends to add more strength 'to the brace member, and prevent bending thereof, when in use.

In Figures V, VI, and VII, I have shown another slight modification wherein the entire periphery of the lens is edged at an angle to the axis line 'on the lens, instead of just a restricted portion 10. The lens is edged substantially on a radial line of the center of curvature of the outer curve of the lens, or on a line normal to the tangent of the outer curve at the periphery of the lens.

The lensconnecting means on the bridge is adjusted to the curve of the lens by bending the shank 13 as shown in Figs. V, VI, and VII of the drawing. The temple connection is secured in position at the outer edge of the lens, and the set back of the tempies is properly adjusted by filing off a portion of the projection 14 as shown at C in Fig. V, or by adjustment of the screw 16, as previously described. In View of the fact that the distance B, illustrated in Fig. II is constant, and the distance A is constant, a more rigid and uniform fit is obtained throughout all lenses. The screw holes are always in alignment, and the screw may easily be inserted in position. The screw may be tightened to rigidly unite the parts without danger of straining and breaking the lenses. When the moimting is assembled, there is noloose play at the bridge or temple connection; the accurate fit of the lens connecting members forms a more rigid and durable mounting.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided means to carry out all the objects of the invention in a simple, economical and efficient manner, especially in providing improved means for supporting rimless lenses of varying curvatures without fear of breakage and an improved process of forming same.

Having described my invention, I claim:

1. In a device of the character described, a lens having its edges substantially radial with the main curvature of the lens and having perforations therethrough adjacent the edge on the nasal side thereof, the axis of said perforation being substantially parallel with the edge of the lens and said opening having a double taper with the intersection of the tapering surfaces substantially midway the surfaces of the lens, and a lens holding member comprising an edge portion and ear portions engaging the edge and surfaces respectively of the lens and having openings aligned with the opening in the lens and a securing member extending through the openings in the lens holding means and lens to hold the parts together, said edge portion of the lens holding member being recessed substantially midway of the surfaces of the lens and the edge of the lens engaging said edge portion and the inner surface of the edge portion so engaged having a double taper, the planes of the tapered surfaces intersecting substantially midway of the surfaces of the lens.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination of a lens having a peripheral edge surface which lies substantially parallel with the axis of the lens throughout the major portion of the edge and which has a connecting set thereon, the outer surface of which lies substantially on a radial line of a curve on the lens regardless of the radius of said curve, said lens having a perforation therein adjacent the seat, the axis of said peforation lying substantially parallel with the surface of the seat and lying at an angle to the edge of the lens adjacent the seat and a lens holding member comprising an edge portion and ear portions engaging the edge and surfaces respectively of the lens and having openings aligned with the perforation in the lens and a securing member extending through the openings in the lens holding means and lens to hold the parts together.

3. In a device of the character described, the combination of a lens having a peripheral edge surface which lies substantially parallel with the axis of the lens throughout the major portion of the edge and which has a connecting seat thereon, the outer surface of which lies subprising the combination of an ophthalmic lens having an edge the plane of which is at an angle to the surfaces of the lens and a seat portion on said edge the plane of which is substantially radial with a face surface on the lens and at an angle to the plane of said edge and a lens holding member having a seat portion engaging the seat portion of the edge of the lens and a portion engaging a face of the lens, and means securing the face engaging portion of the lens holding means and the lens together.

GEORGE C. FAVRE. 

